Document photographing machine



Feb. 3, 1953 R. M. HESSER'F 2,627,203

DOCUMENT PHOTOGRAPHING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 14, 1943 10 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Raymund/M. hffsf rf Wind ATTORNEY Feb. 3, 1953 R. M. HESSERT DOCUMENT PHOTOGRAPHING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 14, 1943 BY (f 3 A TTORNEV Feb. 3, 1953 R. M. HESSERT DOCUMENT PHOTOGRAPHING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Jan. 14, 1945 INVE-NTOR wazi/M ATTORNEY Feb. 3, 1953 R. M. HESSERT DOCUMENT PHOTOGRAPHING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Jan. 14, 1943 m9 mm no va m ow Q2 QQE R 0 T N E M fiaymondM/sserf ATTORNEY Feb. 3, 1953 R. M. HESSERT 2,627,203

DOCUMENT PHOTOGRAPHING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 14, 1945 1o Sheets-Sheet 7 lllllllllllllll I NVE NTOR man/M17650) AT TORNEI Feb. 3, 1953 R. M. HESSERT 2,627,203

DOCUMENT PHOTOGRAPHING MACHINE Original Filed Jan. 14, 1945 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 'II/Ill 1 INVE NTOR fiqyoz ondM/fwserf WIM ATTORNE Feb. 3, 1953 R. M. HESSERT DOCUMENT PHOTOGRAPHING MACHINE 1O Sheets-Sheet 10 Original Filed Jan. 14, 1943 I INVE/VToR i] fiaymondM/fcsscrf 10B 5, WIN

?atenied Feb. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Original application January 14, 1943, Serial No. 472,359. Divided and this application July 8, 1949, Serial No. 103,650

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a document photographing machine particularly adapted for rapidly photographing bank checks, statements, index cards, letter and similar sheets. This application is a division of application Ser. No. 472,359 filed January 14, 1943, now Patent No. 2,492,127.

The invention comprehends the provision of a document photographic machine that will photograph documents of varying size, with particular reference to the length of the document from the top to the bottom thereof which may vary in length to any extent and be photographed in a manner that will provide a single continuous image of the document on a film strip.

The invention comprehends the provision of a document photographing machine having a feed mechanism for automatically receiving and feeding documents of various sizes successively through the photographic plane and then discharging the documents in successive order from the machine, while suitable document controlled mechanism feeds only sufiicient film to obtain an image of the document and then discontinues the film feed. A source of illumination is controlled by the document for providing suflicient light to illuminate the document as it passes through the photographic plane for photographing on the film.

The invention provide a convenient structural assembly for the document feeding mechanism with the illuminating structure associated therewith in a manner that each may be conveniently swung out of normal operative position into an inoperative position to provide ready access to the entire mechanism for inspection, repair and replacement; and the provision of a light indicator for registering to the machine operator when one or more of the lamp bulbs of the illuminating system are burned out or extinguished.

The invention comprehends the provision of a document feed structure having a plurality of rollers arranged in a manner to provide -a partially cylindrical feed path to the document for flexing the document into curved form during ieeding through the machine past the photographic plane for obtaining a more uniform feeding of documents past the photographic plane wherein the feed rollers are arranged to cooperate for bending the document into curved form as it is fed through the machine in order to obtain efficient feeding of documents of varying size through the machine for photographing, withthe reduction of friction and noise in the operation of the machine.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective showing the front end of the machine disclosing the location of the controls, indicators and the feed and discharge openings.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation looking at the righthand side of the machine with the outside casing removed, portions being broken away and shown in section to illustrate some of the structural details.

Fig. 3 isa side elevation looking at the lefthand side of the machine with the casing partly removed and partly shown in cross section.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the machine with the casing removed.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken substantially long the line 55 of Fig. 3 and disclosing the document feeding mechanism.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross section taken substantially along line 6-8 of Fig. 3 looking from the rear and disclosing the drive mechanism for the document feeding and indexing devices.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation looking from the left hand side of the machine showing the document controlled device for starting the film feed drive mechanism in feeding position.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross section taken substantially along the line 8--8 of Fig. '7 disclosing in detail the ratchet and pawl arrangement for controlling indexing and film feed operations.

Fig. 9 is a cross section taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig. 4 looking from the left-hand side of the machine and disclosing the document feed roll assembly.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the document straightening device.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail side view, partly ,in cross section, showing the light switch and its associated mechanism.

Fig. 12 is a top plan view partly in cros section of the switch shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail cross section showing the document straightening device taken substantially along the line l3-l3 of Fig. 5 and looking from the left-hand side of the machine.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged cross section taken substantially along the line l4l4 of Fig. 2, disclosing the clutch mechanism for operating the document feed rolls.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse cross section showing the pressures feed rolls and the drive feed rolls in relation to the stationary cylinder of the document feed mechanism.

Fig. 16 is a circuit diagram for the machine.

Frames Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the present machine is mounted generally upon a movable truck or base 50 having secured at its upper structure thereof a pair of longitudinally extending side bars and 52. Located at the front of the machine and secured to the inner sides of side bars 5! and 52 by screws 55 is a pair of upright frame walls 53 and 54 which are prevented from lateral displacement by tie rods 56. The frame walls 53 and 5 3 are adapted to support the document feeding mechanism, the lighting. device, the indexing mechanism and its controls, and the control keyboard of the machine. Located midway between the ends of side bars 5i and 52 and secured thereto is a cross' plate 51 upon which is mounted a suitable motor 58 for driving the various units of the present machine. Located at the rear of the machine and secured to side bars 5i and '52 is another cross plate 59, upon which rests the camera unit and the drive mechanism for feeding the film. The machine is enclosed within and rendered light-proof and sound-proof by a suitable casing 59 which is secured to side bars 5! and 52.

Document drive and feed mechanisms Before the documents designated by the character Din Figs. '7, 9; and are fed into the present machine, they are first arranged in groups and stacked upon a table 6|. Table Si is slidably and removably mounted upon frame walls 53 and 5 4 on suitable brackets carried by said walls. The documents are then fed one at a time through a throat 62 (Fig. 9) formed by the front portion of an arcuate guide plate 63 forming part of an upper guideunit and the rear edge of an auxiliary table 64. The table 64 extends transversely between and is secured to the frame plates 53 and 54 by screws 65. The documents are then fed around a stationary cylinder 65 by means to be described, past a focal range shown in dot and dash lines in Figs. 4 and 9, and indicated by the reference numeral 61, of a photographic apparatus broadly designated as 63. The photographic apparatus 68 may be a duplex camera of the motion picture ty e- Referring to Figs. 2, 6, and 9, cylinder 58 extends between end frame walls 53 and 5t and is provided with a left and right-hand end Wall iii and 7!, respectively, the inner face of each of which is formed with an annular shoulder to receive oneend of cylinder 65. Cylinder $5 and end walls Ill and H form a unitary structure held rigidly together by means of a plurality of tie rods I2, one end of which terminates in the end wall 73 and the other end of which passes through walls 7! and 5d; and are secured thereto by means of nuts 73. Extending longitudinally within and arranged in an arcuate line concentric with the cylinder 58 is a plurality of shafts'i i, nine in number. Each of the shafts it except the topmost (see Fig. 9 hassecured thereto a plurality of feed rolls 75. The topmost shaft M has secured thereto a single feedroll 76' (Fig. 10) of limited Width forreasonswhich will hereinafter appear. Each of thes'haf ts 14 is journaled at its left-hand end (right Fig.6) in the end wall is and journaled near its right-hand end in the wall II. The right-hand end of each shaft extends beyond the wall ll, through an opening in the wall 54, and has secured thereto a gear '17. The

means for rotating the feed roll shafts 14 will now be described.

Located within cylinder 66 in axial relation therein is a main drive shaft '18 which extends longitudinally of said cylinder and is journaled toward its left-hand end (Fig. 6) in the walls 54 and 71 and toward its right-hand end in the wall iii. The left-hand end of the shaft 78, Fig. 6, extends beyond frame wall 5 and has secured thereto a flanged hub iii to which is secured a gear 89 constantly in mesh with another gear 8!. The gear 88 is formed with an annular flange 82 within which seats an internal gear 83 secured to gear 36 by screws 86. The gear 83 meshes with all of the gears 71 fixed to feed roll shafts lit. As is best shown in Figs. 2 and 14, gear 8! is rotatably mounted upon a stub shaft 85 extending out wardly from and fixed to frame wall 5 3 and has formed integral therewith a clutch disc 85. This disc 86 has teeth which are normally in engagement with the teeth of a continuously rotating clutch disc 8? alsci'otatably mounted upon the stub'shaft 85. Disc ii? is formed integral with a gear 88 driven by means now tobe described. The motor 58 is adapted to drive a shaft 29 which has secured thereto a pulley Bil connected by belt 9! to another pulley 82 (Figs. 2, 4 and I l) keyed to hub 93, of gear 95 rotatably mounted upon stub shaft S5 secured to frame wall 55 by bolts 96 From the foregoing it will be seen that clockwise rotation of shaft 39 will rotate pulley 9 2 and gear 9-; in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2) which in turn will rotate gear Bil. in a clockwise direc tion through gear 85, clutchdiscs 8'5 and ilo and gear Si. Rotation of gear 8d will, through the internal gear 83 and gears l? rotatefa-ll ofthe feed rolls [5 in a clockwise direction (counterclockwise as shown in Fig. 9). i V

In order to disengage clutch discs 86 and 9'! to stop the rotation of feed rolls l5, clutch disc '1 is formed with a channelled portion 97 (Fig. 14) adapted to receive a pair of pins or studs 98 individually secured'to a pair ofupright arms: I integral with a bell-crank' ml (Fig. 2) mounted for rocking movement upon a pair of brackets Hi2 secured to frame wall 54, Another arm I03 on bell-crank It! has the upper end of a link I64 pivotally connected thereto, the lower end ofsaid link being connected to one arm of a bell-crank Hi5 pivotally mounted upon frame wall 5%. The other arm of bell-crank its is pivotedto a forwardly extendin link i which link has the rear end connected to armature H31 of a normally deenergized solenoid Hi8, The link and armature Hi6 and till, respectively, are urged to the front of the machine by means of spring l 2,9 connected at one end to pin Hi fixed to framewall 5d and the other end connected to bell-crank i651. This spring Hi3 also urges clutch members 86 and 81 into operative engagement.

The construction is such that when solenoid $68 is energized, by means fully described in the aforementioned application, armature fill. and link H35 will be drawn to the right (Fig. 2) against the tension of spring H9. torock bell-crank H35 in a counterclockwise direction. This will cause downward movement of bell-crank hi5 to rock bell-crank it! which through arms Edi? and pins 98 moves clutch disc 8'! axially along shaft out of engagement with clutch disc at. Upon the deenergization of solenoid tilt, spring H8 will cause clutch disc 8? to move backto its normal engagingposition.

Referring to Figs. 6 and 9 it will be recalled that there are provided nine shaft-s M within by}.

inder 66, the topmost shaft having a single feed roll 15 mounted thereon and each of the remaining eight shafts mounting a plurality of feed rolls 15. Beginning with the topmost shaft 14 and counting in a counterclockwise direction in Fig. 9, feed rolls 15 and 16 secured to the first five shafts 14 have the peripheries extending slightly beyond the outer periphery of cylinder 66 through rectangular slots or openings H2 (see also Figs. 5 and I5) formed in the cylinder. The topmost feed roll 16 cooperates with an associated pressure roll H3 (Figs. 9 and and the remaining four groups of feed rolls cooperate with associated pressure rolls H4. The pressure rolls H3 and H4 form part of the upper guide unit and are secured to shafts I I5 the ends of which extend through openings I I6 formed in a pair of arcuate frame plates H1 and are journaled in bearings H8.

Bearings H3 (Fig. 6) are guided for radial movement in grooves H9 formed in plates H1 of the upper guide unit and are urged by springs I25 disposed in grooves I I9 in a direction whereby pressure rolls H3 and H4 are brought into engagement with the feed rolls 16 and 15, respectively. Bearings I I3 are retained in their respective grooves I I9 by the previously described arcuate guide plate 63 secured at its ends to the underside of plates H1. The diameter of the inner periphery of guide plate 63 is slightly greater than the diameter of the outer periphery of cylinder 66 to permit passage of a document D between the cylinder and guide plate.

Slots I2I are provided in guide plate 63 through which the peripheries of pressure rolls H3 and H4 slightly protrude to engage feed rolls 15 and 16 respectively. A retainer plate I22 is secured to and is in spaced parallel relation to the outer face of each frame plate H1 for preventing lateral displacement of bearings H8 and springs I26. Secured to the outer periphery of each of frame plates H1 is a retainer strip I23 against the inner face of which bears one end of each spring i2il.

In order to facilitate adjustment and repair of the pressure and feed rolls and also to facilitate the removal of documents which may have been jammed between said rolls during feeding thereof, the pressure rolls H3 and H4 and their mounting as above described, form a structural unit referred to as the upper guide unit, pivoted upon a pair of studs I24 individually secured to the frame walls 53 and 54.

The arcuate guide plate 63 is provided with an upright wall I25 the top portion of which is bent to form a finger piece I26 by which the unitary structure may be rocked from a normal operating position shown in full lines to an open inoperative position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 9.

A tube I21 is located between and has its ends secured to the two frame members H1, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 9. A pair of plungers I28 is disposed in tube I21 and have the outer ends extending beyond the ends of said tube for engaging in openings formed in upright walls 53 and 54 when the pressure rolls are in effective position (full lines in Fig. 9). The inner ends of said plungers are provided with finger pieces I 36 which extend through longitudinal slots I3I in tube I21. A compression spring I32 disposed between the inner ends of the plungers serves to urge the plungers axially apart.

When it is desired to move the upper guide unit from the operative position shown in full lines to the dot and dash line position, in Fig. 9, the

finger pieces I36 are first brought together against the tension of spring I32, moving the outer ends of plungers I28 out of the openings in the frame walls. The unit is then rocked in a clockwise direction (Fig. 9) about its pivot I24 until the outer ends of the plungers are above the upper edge of frame walls 53 and 54. It will be seen that, if the plungers are then released, they will be moved further apart through the action of spring I32 so that the outer ends thereof will rest upon the upper edge of the frame walls and hold the unit in the open inoperative position.

It has been previously described that there are nine driven feed roll shafts 14, the first five of which, beginning from the topmost shaft (Fig. 9) and counting in a counter-clockwise direction, have secured thereon feed rolls 15 and 16 which cooperate with respective pressure rolls H4 and H3. The feed rolls 15 carried by three of the remaining four feed roll shafts 14, counting from the bottom feed roll in a clockwise direction in Fig. 9, have their peripheries extending slightly beyond the periphery of the cylinder 66 through slots I29 and cooperating with pressure rolls I33 of a lower guide unit which are substantially similar in structure and arrangement to pressure rolls H4. The pressure rolls I33 are secured to shafts I34 having the ends extending through openings formed in a pair of arcuate frame plates I35 of the lower guide unit, and journaled in bearings I36. Bearings I36 are slidable radially in grooves 31 between the outer face of plates I35 and spaced parallel retainer plates I4I. Springs I38 are also disposed in grooves I31, in a direction whereby pressure rolls I33 are brought into engagement with feed rolls 15. Each of said plates I35 has secured to the outer periphery thereof a retainer strip I40, against which bears one end of each spring I38. The retainer plates I4I are secured to the outer faces of plates I35 for preventing lateral displacement of springs I38 and bearings I36. A transversely extending arcuate guide plate I42 is located against and secured to the inner periphery of plates I35 in slightly spaced relation away from the outer periphery of cylinder 66, serves to guide a document fed between the above-mentioned feed and pressure rolls and forms part of the lower guide unit. As will be seen in Fig. 9, the forward marginal portion of arcuate guide plate I42 is bent downward in order to facilitate the ejection of documents into tray I43. Guide plate I42 has a plurality of slots through which the peripheries of rolls I33 project to engage feed rolls 15. Bolts 01' studs I39 extend through arcuate frame plates I35 and upright frame walls 53 and 54 for mounting the lower guide unit in operative position with rolls I33 engaging rolls 15 and with springs I38 under a desired amount of tension for feeding documents. By removal of bolts I39 at the left-hand upper portion as shown in Fig. 9 the bottom guide unit may be swung downwardly on the remaining two bolts I39 for inspection and repair purposes or to remove a jammed document. If desired a latch construction similar to that used on the upper guide unit may be used in place of the upper pair of bolts I39.

Located behind the stationary cylinder 33 and running longitudinally thereof, is a transparent plate I44 (Figs. 5, 9 and 15), preferably glass, through which the document may be exposed to the focal range 61 as it is fed through the machine. The transparent strip I44 is secured at its ends to a pair of brackets I45. Brackets I45 are secured to end plates H7. The above described transparent member Hi l is provided so as to guide the document through the focal range. Slightly below transparent member IN is located the fourth driven feed roll shaft 7d, counting from the lowest shaft in a clockwise direction (Fig. 9). In order to insure that a document when passing the focal range is taut so that a properly focused image is presented to the camera, gear 77 se-, cured to the above-mentioned fourth shaft it, is formed integral with another gear I 16 of larger diameter as is best seen in Figs. 2 and 5. The gear I46 meshes with a smaller gear I57 secured to one end of a short stub shaft Hi8 journaled in the arcuate frame plate I35 of the lower guide unit located at the right of the machine (left Fig. 5).

The other end of stub shaft its is provided with a key portion I50 engaging in slot I5! formed at the right-hand end (left Fig. 5) of a removable shaft I52 extending transversely of the machine and longitudinally to the adjacent shaft 7;? (Fig. 9). The other end of shaft E52 has a reduced portion. I53, which loosely fits within sleeve Ibfl. A compression spring I55 is provided to urge the sleeve axially toward the right (Fig. 5) into cooperation with stud I53 having a rotatable mounting on left-hand arcuate frame plate 5 35. A pin and slot arrangement I57 is provided to limit the axial movement of sleeve I 5 2.

A plurality of feed rolls I 53 are mounted on shaft I52 and have the periphery of each covered with a resilient fabric, such as velvet 76E] forl ing a brush which extends through openings IEI in the arcuate guide plate to cooperate with the periphery of the fourth feed rolls 75 counting from the bottom in Fig. 9. It will be noted at this time that .gear t lt is larger than gear 77 and about twice as large as gear H37 with which it is in mesh. Accordingly, brush lt il travels at a much greater speed than feed rolls 75. Normally with shaft I52 in operative position as shown in Figs. 5 and 9, the nap of velvet fabric or brush .Ifid resiliently bears against the peripheryof feed rolls 75. l/Vhen the document is fed between feed .rolls and the velvet brush Itil, the nap traveling at a much greater speed than feed rolls :75 will tend to straighten whatever bulge or fold that may be present in the document. Also, due to the resiliency of the nap, once the document is taut, the fabric will slip. When it becomes necessary to replace fabric covering E89, due to wear or adjustment, sleeve 955 (Fig. 5) is moved to the left against the tension of spring I55, until said sleeve is free from stud I55. The entire feed roll assembly may then be removed for such replacement or adjustment.

Light source The source of light for illuminating the document while passing through the focal range .67 consists of a pair of upright end frames or plates IE2 located just inside frame walls 53 and 54 (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 9). Plates I62 are pivotally mounted upon a cross shaft ltt (Fig. 9) fixedat its ends to framewallsSB and -55. Referringto Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 9, a frame structure IE4 is located and secured midway between the upper and lower ends of frame plates I52. Frame structure I64 is provided with a plurality of sockets, eight in number, which are adapted to receive suitable lights I65. As is best seen in Fig.4, the sockets and lights are arranged instepped formation in a manner to provide an equal distribution'of light rays-for illuminating-a.document while passing through focal range 67. Frame structure I64 is further provided with flanged portions I66 to localize the light rays. Frame plates I62 have an upright cross plate I67 secured to the upper portions thereof in order to prevent any light reflections from entering photographic apparatus 68. The light structure is, therefore, in the form of a unit movable from the effective position shown in full lines to the ineffective and open position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 2 in order to provide access for inspection, assembly, repair and adjustment of the document feeding and control mechanisms.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 9, a tube I68 is located between and secured to the upper portions of plates I62. Tube I68 is similar in structure to tube I27 hereinbefore described. A pair of plungers I76 are slidably mounted in tube I68 and have the outer ends adapted to protrude from the ends of tube I68 for engagement in openings formed in end frame walls 53 and 54. Plungers I75} have finger pieces Ii'I extending through elongated slots I72 in tube I63 and normally projected away from each other by a compression spring I73. When it is desired to move the entire light structure from the full line position to that shown in dot and dash lines (Fig. 2), the finger pieces I'II are moved together against the tension of spring I73 to disengage the outer ends of plungers I70 from the openings in frame walls 53 and 54. This permits free pivotal movement of the light structure.

Document straightening device In order to insure that the documents are fed in a square position past the focal range 67 so the image thereof is presented to a minimum portion of film, a document straightening device is provided in the present machine. Referring to Figs. 4, 5, 9, 10, and 13, it will be recalled that the topmost feed roll shaft 74 has secured midway between the ends thereof a single feed roll 75, rather than a plurality of feed rolls as on the other shafts 74. Cooperating with the single feed roll 76 is a single pressure roll II3. Slightly to the rear and above the feed rolls 76 and H3 (Fig. 9) lies a cross shaft I74 journaled at its ends in arcuate frame plates II7 of the upper guide unit. Cross shaft I74 is notched in the lower periphery thereof to receive and hold a cross bail I75 having a plurality of depending fingers I75 extending from the lower free edge. A spring 111 (Fig. 13) has one end connected to pin I 78 fixed to shaft I 74 and the other end connected to pin I86 fixed to front wall I 25 of arcuate guide plate 63, and urges shaft I .74 and ball I75 in a counter-clockwise direction. Clockwise and counter-clockwise movement of shaft I14 is limited by adjustable stops I8I cooperating with upright arm I82 fixed .to shaft I74 (Fig. 13). Fingers I78 extend through suitable slots formed in arcuate guide plate 53 and stationary cylinder 66. It will be seen that in normal position as shown in Figs. 9 and 13, fingers I76 are in the path of travel of document D. The above construction is such that, if a document is fed in other than a square position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 10, the leading edge or corner of said document will come to rest against any of the plurality of fingers I76 as the corner of the document will not be driven forward with sulficient force to displace fingers I76 against the tension of spring I77. Further rearward movement of the document will bringthecenterportion thereof incontactwith feed rolls 76 and H3,

which will cause the document to be pivoted about the advance corner thereof, until the entire leading edge of said document contacts the maximum number of fingers I15 and presses against said fingers with an increased pressure suflicient to overcome the tens-ion of spring IT! and rock the bail and fingers out of its path.

M taro-switch In the 'present machine, means are provided whereby the document feeding mechanism is prevented from operating when two or more documents overlapping each other are inadvertently fed past the throat E2 and when documents exceeding a predetermined thickness are fed past said throat.

Referring to Figs. 2, 6, and 14, it will be recalled that the feed roll shafts 14 are continuously driven by a train of gears through normally engaged clutch members 85 and 81, which clutch members may be disengaged by energizing solenoid I08. As is best seen in 4, 5, and 9, one of the means for energizing solenoid I08 includes a U-shaped bell-crank I83 pivotally mounted upon trunnions I84, carried by a pair of upright brackets I05 mounted on arcuate guide plate 63. Bell-crank I83 is provided with upwardly extending arm I86 carrying at its upper end an adjustment screw I87, the shank of which is adapted, when the bell-crank is rocked, to close a contact within a micro-switch generally designated as I88, adjusted so movements of .002 to .003 of an inch are sufficient to make or break a circuit. Another arm I (Figs. and 9) formed integral with bell-crank I83 extends downwardly and has rotatably mounted at the lower end thereof a roller I9I, a portion of which extends through and beyond slot I92 in arcuate guide plate 63 and rests upon the outer periphery of stationary cylinder 65. Bell-crank I83 is urged by gravity in a, counterclockwise direction and is rocked clockwise as viewed in Fig. 9 by a document passing between roller ISI and cylinder 56. The adjustment screw I8? may be adjusted in such a manner that, when a document of a predetermined thickness passes through the machine, the contacts in micro-switch I88 remain open, and, therefore, solenoid I00 remains deenergized permitting the machine to continue operating. However, when two or more documents are fed at one time, bell-crank I83 will be rocked a greater distance clockwise causing adjustment screw I81 to close the contacts within micro-switch I88 to energize the solenoid, and thus disengage clutch members 65 and 3'? to stop the feed rolls from operating. It is necessary to remove the documents before the machine can again be started. The location of bell-crank I83 is such that when two document operate it and stop the machine, the trailing edges of the documents are still located in throat 52 for manual engagement and removal.

Light switch In the present machine means are provided whereby the previously described lamps I65 are illuminated before the leading edge of a document reaches the focal range 51 and remain illuminated until after the trailing edge of the document is fed beyondthe focal range. Referring to Figs. 5, '7, 9, 11, 12, and 15, a cross shaft I93 is journaled at its end in arcuate frame plates IN and is formed with a radial slot extending longitudinally thereof to receive and hold a cross bail I90. Cross bail I is formed at its lower free edge portion with a plurality of fingers I95, which extend downwardly through openings in arcuate guide plate 53 and stationary cylinder 66 and lie in the path of travel of a document D. The left-hand end of shaft I03 (right, in Fig. 5) extends beyond arcuate frame plate I I1, and has a depending arm I00 secured to the free end thereof (Figs. '7, 11 and 12). Arm I has a cam surface i91 on the free end for cooperation with a roller I93.

The roller I08 extends toward the left passing through an opening 200 in frame wall 53 and is mounted for rotation upon an upright arm 20I of a bell-crank 202. The bell-crank 202 is rotatably mounted upon a stud 203 secured to left-hand frame wall 55, and is provided with forwardly extending arm 2 04. When bell-crank 202 is rocked by arm I96, arm 204 closes a pair of contacts and 205, thereby closing the circuit to illuminate lamps I65.

Referring to Figs. 11 and 12, contacts 205 and 255 are mounted upon a common bracket 20! of suitable insulating material such as Bakelite, which is secured to the left-hand face of wall 53 by screws 208. Contact 205 extends downwardly through an opening in an inverted cup-shaped member 2 is (Fig. 11), and a button 2II of insu lating material is secured to its lower end for sliding movement within the inner periphery of said cup-shaped member 2 I 5. A spring 2 I2 serves to urge contact 205 away from contact 206 and is limited in such movement by a collar 2I3 secured to the upper end of contact 205. The inverted cup-shaped member 2 If; is held stationary within a cylindrical housing 2 I4 formed integral with bracket 201. The contact 205 is mounted for sliding movement in much the same manner as contact 205 and, therefore, the description concerning contact 205 is sufiicient for contact 205.

The above construction is such that when the leading edge of a document engages fingers I95 (as shown in Fig. 7) arm I96 is rocked clockwise, thus rocking bell-crank 202 in a counterclockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. '7. In the initial rocking of bell-crank 202 in a counterclockwise direction, arm 204 thereof will move contact 255 upwardly into engagement with contact 206. Further rotation of bell-crank 202 will cause both contacts to move upwardly against the tension of their respective springs 2I2, and will remain in this position during the time that the fingers I95 feel the presence of a document as shown in Figs. 7 and 15.

When the rear edge of the document has moved out of the path of fingers I95, spring 2 I5 (Figs. 3 and 11) havin one end connected to a pin on frame wall 53, and the other end connected to arm 204 of bell-crank 202 will cause cross bail I94 and fingers I 95 thereof to return to normal position, as shown in Fig. 9. The circuit through contacts 205 and 206 is not broken during the return movement of bail I94 until just before it reache its normal position. This provides a delayed action in opening the light circuit so the rear edge of the document has passed the focal range 61 before the lights are extinguished. This delayed action is obtained by springs 2 I2 keeping the sliding contacts .205 and 206 engaged for slidin movement through a portion of the return movement of cross bail I94 and bell-crank 202 and until the collar on contact 206 engages the upper end of bracket 201. In order that a fine adjustment may be obtained between contacts 205 and 206, upright frame wall 53 has secured thereon an adjustable eccentric l 99 which cooperates with a third arm 2 l 6 formed integral with bell-crank 282 for limiting move ment of said bell-crank.

Friction eliminating device for document feeding It is an established principle that, when an element is fed between a pair of rolls, the element will tend to travel in a line perpendicular to the line joining the centers of the rolls. In view of this principle it will be seen that, if the center of arcuate guide plate 53 lies on the line joining the centers of the rolls H 4 and t5, the document, tending to travel in a line perpendicular to the line of centers, will be deflected by the plate 63. However, in doing so practically the entire document will at some time or other rub against the inner periphery of the plate 63 causing undue friction. Also, it will be seen that the leading edge of the document may during its travel along an arcuate path strike against an obstruction which in this case may be the transparent member [4d preventing proper feeding of the document and causing possible damage to the document and machine. In order to eliminate a maximum amount of friction and also to prevent jamming due to improper feeding of the document the feed roll structure is arranged in the following manner:

Feed rolls IM as shown in Figs. 9 and 15 are offset in a counterclockwise direction, and in the direction of document feed relative to feed rolls 75, that is the centers of rolls H4 do not lie in the radial planes intersecting the center of cylinder 66 and the centers of rolls 15. The offset is such that the leading edge of the document being fed perpendicular to the line joining the centers of the feed rolls l and I It will not contact the inner periphery of the arcuate guide plate 63 until it has traveled a considerable distance beyond the two feed rolls and slightly before it is gripped by the following set of feed rolls. While only four sets of feed rolls l5 and H4 are shown as offset in the drawings (Fig. 9) it will be understood that the remainder of the sets of feed rolls may be similarly offset if desired without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Telltale for the lights Referring to the circuit diagram disclosed in Fig. 16, the lights I65 are connected in parallel. In this manner should one light fail to o on for any reason, the rest of the lights remain illuminated. When one or more lights go out the desired photographic results cannot be obtained. Therefore, all of the lights I65 must be effective to obtain the desired photographic results. It is, therefore, necessary that means be provided whereby the. operator is signaled whenever one or more of the lights I65 has gone out. In the present machine, and as may best be seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9, means are provided for obtaining the above result and for signaling to the operator upon the condition of the lights. This means provides an illumination conducting rod 211, such as Lucite .(methylmethacrylate) for each lam- N55. The lower end of each rod 2|! extends through an opening in one of the flanged portions 166 and is positioned so as to catch the light rays of its respective lamp 1%. The rods are provided with a plurality of bends to extend around and to the rear of frame structure 16 i and flanged portions I66, then upward ly at the sides of the machine near plates H32 beyond focal range 57, and then toward the front of the machine where the upper ends terminate in uniform spaced relation for observation through openings in panel 218 (Figs. 1 and 9). The rods are suitably fastened to cross plate I 61. The upper ends of the rods are arranged in the same order in panel 2H8 as the lower ends and lamps I55. Panel 2|8 (Fig. 1) forms part of the front wall of casing 59.

A suitable camera, film drive mechanism for feeding the film in the camera controlled by the document feed, an auxiliary film feeding mechanism, and suitable signaling and control mechanism is also provided for operation in conjunction with the above described document feed and lighting structure. The construction of these several features is fully shown and described in the aforementioned application.

Circuit diagram Referring to Fig. 16, the present machine utilizes four separate and distinct circuits connected to the power supply line indicated by reference numerals 655 and 656 under control of a main switch 55?. The first of said circuits is connected in parallel with the main line to operate motor 52 when switch 658 is closed. Switch 658 is mounted on the upper front portion of casing 59 as, shown in Fig. 1. A pilot light 660, connected in the motor circuit, is provided to signal the operator whenever the motor is running. This pilot light is mounted adjacent switch 658 and is shown in Fig. l.

The second circuit includes a voltage control unit 86f utilizing electronic tubes of a character well known in circuits of this type. Lamps IE5 are connected to said voltage control unit 65! in parallel, the circuit being under control of contacts 2&5 and 206.

The third and fourth circuits provide control means for indicating when the camera is not properly operating to photograph documents and also for controlling the operation of solenoid 03 to stop the document feed under conditions described in the aforementioned application.

It will be noted thatmicro-switch I88 and contacts B66 and 661 are in parallel with each other and in series with solenoid I88 for independent operation of the solenoid.

It often becomes necessary that different groups of documents may be photographed upon the film with a space of unexposed film between the different groups or a predetermined space between the different documents fed through the machine. For this reason, mechanism is provided whereby the film drive mechanism is operated independently of the document feeding mechanism.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, located to the left of the upright frame wall 53 and secured thereto is a U-shaped bracket 6'), upon which is mounted for vertical movement a plunger 6?! resiliently urged in an upward direction by a spring 812. The plunger fill is connected at its lower end to the forwardly extending arm of a lever 673, pivotally mounted upon the frame wall 53. The rearwardly extending arm of lever 873 is connected to the upper end of a link EH3 mounted for vertical movement at its lower end upon a pin B75 engaged in slot 676 therein. Located beneath and in the path of the arm 284 of bellcrank 25,2v is a pin 6?? adapted when th link 57d is-raised, through operation of plunger 6 H, torocl; the bell-crank in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. 3) to engage the clutch members 280 and 293 in a manner described in said afore- 13 mentioned application to start the operation of the film feed driv mechanism.

Operation The present invention is particularly adapted for use in the photographing of bank checks and statements although it is equally adaptable for use in photographing other types of documents. Various sizes of documents can be photographed in the present machine, the limit of size being determined by the dimension of the document in one direction only because the capacity of this machine is limited only by its width, particularly the width of the throat 62 and the length of stationary cylinder 66. The transverse dimension of the document as it is fed into the machine is, therefore, the only controlling factor on the size of document that can be photographed in the machine while the dimension of the document in line with the direction of feed can be any length. Thisresult is obtained in a manner that will be clear from the following description of the machines operation. A camera is provided with a roll of film which is then inserted into the machine in the manner described in the aforementioned application to condition the machine for photographing documents.

The machine is attached to a suitable source of current supply controlled by a main switch 65'! and control switch 658 is manually operated to the on position starting motor 58 and energizing pilot light 60. This starts motor 52 so that when the camera is properly inserted in the machine and it is ready to photograph documents, the motor will operate the document feed mechanism hereinabove described by continuously rotating shaft 18 and all of the feed rollers driven therefrom.

Suitable indicia are provided for simultaneous photographing with the documents as described in the aforementioned application. The arrangement of these indicia is set to secure the display of the desired indicia in the photographing of each document. Then the operator of the machine may take a group of checks to be photographed and place them on feed table iii. The checks are fed into throat 62. The operator holds a pile of checks and proceeds to feed them into throat 62 one at a time in successive order as rapidly as the checks may be manually fed. The checks are fed so that the top edge of the check becomes the leading edge with the face of the check upward and facing toward the camera as it passes through the photographing plane. The check first engages the top feed roll 15 on one of shafts M and the single center roller H3 as shown in Fig. where it i fed into the straightening device for engagement of the leading edge with fingers I16 to straighten the position of the check in the machine. The check is now gripped at between single roller H3 and feed roller and positively fed to the left, as shown in Fig. 9, about stationary cylinder 66 under the upper guide unit on the inside of plate 63.

The leading edge of the check in this feeding operation next engages roller IS I. This roller operates 1ever 190 of the mechanism for preventing the feeding of two checks or other documents simultaneously. Therefore, in the event two thicknesses of paper such as two checks engage this roller IS! in overlapped relation, lever 90 is operated to a sufficient extent to close microswitch 133, energize solenoid E89, and disengage the clutch driving feed rollers '15 and it. Since this stops the feeding of two documents at the feed end of the machine, the length of a check from the top to the bottom edge thereof is sufficient for the trailing edge or bottom of the document to be manually engageable in throat 62 so that it may be withdrawn manually from the machine. As soon as the removal of the two documents is obtained or at least one of them, the machine is then set in operation again to feed checks toward photographing position.

The leading edge of the check next engages fingers I for rotating shaft I93 which in turn operates film crank lever 262 in a counter-clockwise direction as illustrated in Fig. 11 engaging contacts 295 and 2% for closing the light circuit and illuminating lamp bulbs I555. The operation closes the lamp circuit as soon as fingers I15 have moved only a short distance of its complete arc of travel and before the leading edge of the document reaches the photographing position. As the leading edge of the check or other document reaches the photographic plane 6'! immediately in the rear of glass plate M4, the lamps IE5 are lighted to full brilliancy. The operator may at this point observe whether all of the lamps are lit and the document is being properly fed by look ing at instrument board EIS. The observation also indicates when the document has reached and is passing through the photographing position, and when it leaves the photographing position.

Immediately after the circuit to lamps is closed, bell crank 2532. is operated to a further extent to move clutch member 28!! to drive shaft 303 and move the film in the camera through the film drive mechanism described in the afore m ntioned application. The movin of the film begins as the leading edge of the document reaches the photographing field 6'! and continues during the movement of the document through the photographing field. The movement of the document and the film is such that the surface speed of each is proportionate and in opposite directions so that the image of the check passing through the machine is photographed onto the film in the camera while both are moving.

As the trailing edge of the document approaches the photographic field 61, the ends of fingers l95 drop off of the trailing edge of the check and move back into the position shown in Fig. 9. This restores bell crank 2132 to its initial position of rest. In the first part of the return movement of fingers :es toward the initial position, clutch member 235 is disconnected from the driving portion of the clutch to stop the feed of film. As soon as clutch 23! is disengaged, arm 3Sl stops rotation of the film feed mechanism to prevent the feeding of too much film past the aperture slot in the camera. Then as fingers 95 move almost to the initial position, bell crank. 252 is operated sufiiciently to disengage contacts 235 and 206 and open the light circuit. The timing of the operation of hell crank 2532 in this manner is such that the trailing edge of the document will be leaving the photographic field as the lights are cut off and the film feed is stopped.

The document or check is then fed through the lower feed section of the feeding mechanism of the machine as illustrated in Fig. 9 by feed rolls '55 and idle rolls i313 until it is discharged at the bottom of the periphery of stationary cylinder 66 into tray I43 where it will be delivered to rest face down in the tray. In this manner each succeeding check will be arranged in the tray in the same order as it was fed into the machine with respect to the other checks in a series. Subse- 15 quent checks will operate all of the parts of the machine mechanism in the manner above described.

During the feeding of checks as above described, a plate 680 is moved to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 for closing entrance into the machine directly rearwardly along the feed table. When it is desired to photograph statements or other similar documents in the machine, plate 688, as shown in Fig. 1, is swung from the position shown in Fig. 1 so as to close the opening into the throat 62. The statements or other documents piled on feed table 6| are then fed by the operator one at a time into the machine beow inclined auxiliary table 64 for engagement between the single feed roll H3 at the entrance to the feeding device for the machine for gripping between this roller II3 and its contacting roller 76. The statement is then engaged with the straightening mechanism including fingers Iifi so as to be straightened for feeding through the photographing position. The operation of the machine is identical with the feeding of a check as above described, since the leading edge operates each of the controls in the same manner as above described in connection with the feed of a check.

The operation of the camera and the feed mechanism of the machine is maintained continuously during the passage of the statement or other document through the photographing plane until the trailing edge of the statement passes the photographing plane and allows the fingers I95 to return to the normal position shown in Fig. 9 for stopping the film feed and extinguishing the lights. When statements are photographed it is usually desirable to adjust tray I43 so that the forward end thereof as shown in Fig. l is moved forwardly to a greater extent so that upon discharge of the statement or other similar document from the feeding mechanism of the camera, the forward edge can engage against the front end of tray I43 while the rear end upon being discharged by the feed mechanism can drop into the rear portion of the tray slightly in advance of the discharge point of the feeding mechanism.

The document feeding mechanism of the present invention causes the documents to be held in an arcuate shape as they are moved past the photographic field of the camera indicated by the numeral 61. Due to the fact that checks and similar documents may have been folded, wrinkled or buckled before being fed into the camera for photographing, it is difiicult to maintain them in a uniform position during feeding into the camera. The shaping of the document into arcuate form during the feeding operation materially aids in maintaining the face of the documents between the sides thereof as it passes through the photographic plane in an equidistant relation with respect to the camera. This is a highly desirable feature due to the fact that with the overall size of the document photographing machine and the percentage of reduction of the image on the film, the optics of the camera lens is such that there is very little depth of focus. By the means employed in feeding documents the face of each document is maintained substanially uniformly in focus with the film to prevent folds, bulges and the like from causing portions of the document to move slightly out of focus and thereby blur the image on the film.

The feeding mechanism also obtains the efficient and rapid feeding of documents for photo- 16 graphing with a series of moving parts having a minimum of weight andinertia components to thereby eliminate the problem of overcomin inertia to start and stop the moving parts of the camera during the feeding and photographing operations.

The documents are also delivered in the front of the machine immediately below feed table Si in a convenient position for ready removal by the operator. All of the controls and indicating means on the machine for manual operation and observation are also at the front of the machine to provide convenience and facilitate the convenient and efiicient control and operation of the machine by the operator.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a document photographing machine, a support having a curved document guide portion, a plurality of feed shafts rotatable in said support in spaced parallel relation in a curved path inwardly of and concentric with said guide portion, feed rolls on said feed shafts having peripheral portions projecting slightly beyond said document guide portion, a plurality of idler shafts journaled outwardly beyond said guide portion in spaced parallel relation, said idler shafts being opposite said feed shafts in cooperative parallel relation, feed rolls on said idler shafts having peripheral portions engaging the peripheries of corresponding feed rolls on said feed shafts, means mounting said idler shafts for normally and resiliently projecting and retaining the feed rolls thereon in engagement with the feed rolls on said feed shafts, and drive means for rotating all of said feed shafts in the same direction simultaneously for cooperation to grip and feed documents in one direction about said curved path between pairs of engaged feed rolls, said drive means comprising a driven ring gear, plural spur gears disposed within the circumference thereof and meshing therewith and each of said spur gears being secured to a respective feed shaft.

2. In a document photographing machine, a support having a curved document guide memher, a plurality of feed shafts rotatable in said support in spaced parallel relation at the inner side of said curved guide member and in a curved path concentric with said guide member, feed rolls on said feed shafts having peripheral portions projecting through openings formed in said guide member and extending slightly beyond the outer surface of said guide member, a pair of guide units detachably mounted in said support and arranged in adjacent but spaced relation beyond the outer face of said curved guide member for cooperation therewith in guiding documents about said guide member, each unit having a plurality of idler shafts journaled therein for radial movement, means for normally urging said shafts towardlsaid guide member, there being a corresponding number of shafts to the number of said feed shafts,.the shafts in said guide units being arranged in opposed relation to corresponding feed shafts, feed rolls on said idler shafts having the peripheries engaged with the feed rolls on said feed shafts for gripping and feeding a document therebetween, and a single driving member engaged with means on all of said feed shafts for rotating said feed shafts in the same direction in the feeding of documents over said curved guide member, the feed rolls on said idler shafts being driven from said feed shafts in the feeding of documents, and said guide units being detachable from said frame to provide ready access to all parts of said feed mechanism.

3. In a document photographing machine, a support formed to provide a curved guide surface, a plurality of feed shafts journaled in said su port in spaced parallel relation and in a curved relation corresponding to said guide surface in inwardly spaced relation with respect thereto, a plurality of idler shafts one corresponding to each feed shaft carried by said support for movement toward and from corresponding feed shafts, a plurality of said idler shafts being offset in the direction of feed over said guide portion relative to the corresponding feed shafts, feed rolls mounted on said feed and idler shafts normally having peripheral engagement for feeding cooperation to grip and feed documents therebetween, means normally urging said idler shafts toward their corresponding feed shafts, and means for driving said feed shafts whereby the offset idler shafts with the feed rolls thereon cooperating with the feed rolls on the feed shafts grip and bend a document as it travels therebetween to curve the feed of said document to correspond with the curved path defined by said guide portion.

4. In a document photographing machine, a support having a curved guide portion, a plurality of feed shafts rotatable in said support in spaced parallel relation and arranged in the same curved relation as said guide portion in inwardly spaced relation, feed rolls mounted on said feed shafts having peripheral portions projecting slightly beyond said curved guide portions, an upper guide unit pivotally mounted in said support for movement between operative and open inoperative position relative to said curved guide portion, manually operable latch means for retaining said upper guide unit in operative position, idler shafts journaled for substantially radial movement in said guide unit toward and from corresponding feed shafts, feed rolls mounted on said idler shafts for peripheral engagement with the feed rolls on said feed shafts for gripping and feeding documents therebetween, a plurality of said idler shafts being mounted in offset relation in the direction of feed of documents about said curved guide portion relative to the corresponding feed shafts, whereby the feed rolls on said idler and feed shafts will cooperate to successively bend a document into curved relation about said curved guide portion to substantially conform with the curvature thereof during feeding over said curved guide portion, a lower guide unit carried by said support, a plurality of idler feed rolls rotatable in said lower guide unit for cooperation with feed rolls on corresponding feed shafts for receiving a document fed by the upper guide unit and its cooperating feed rolls for conveying said documents between said lower guide unit and curved guide portion, said guide units being spaced to provide a portion therebetween forming a photographic plane for documents fed over said curved guide portion.

5. In a document photographing machine, a support having a curved document guide portion, a plurality of feed shafts rotatably mounted in said support in spaced parallel relation and arranged in a curved relation inwardly of and corresponding to said curved guide portion, feed rolls on said feed shafts having peripheral portions projecting slightly beyond said curved guide portion, a plurality of idler rolls carried by said support and resiliently pressed into peripheral engaged relation with the feed rolls on said feed shafts for cooperation therewith in feeding documents therebetween about said curved guide portion, said curved guide portion having a photographic plane across the central portion thereof, a feed shaft rotatably mounted in said support adjacent said photographic plane at the side thereof beyond said plane in the direction of feed of documents over said curved guide portion, said shaft being arranged in spaced parallel relation radially outward of one of said feed shafts, and a feed roll mounted on said outwardly disposed rotatable shaft formed with radially projecting fibers for cooperation with the feed roll on the corresponding feed shaft to grip and feed a document, means for driving said feed shafts at a uniform speed in one direction for feeding documents about said curved guide portion, and means driving said last-mentioned feed shaft at a higher rate of speed than said first-mentioned feed shafts whereby a document engaged by the radially projecting fibers on the feed rolls thereof will be drawn tightly across said curved guide surface throughout said photographic plane in order to maintain a document being fed through said machine substantially accurately in said photographic plane during the movement of a document through said plane.

6. In a document photographing machine, a support formed with a guide portion for guiding documents through said machine, a photographing plane provided intermediate the ends of said guide portion, a plurality of pairs of feed rolls having peripheral engagement between the rolls of each pair rotatably mounted in said support with the engaged portions of the peripheries adjacent the surface of said guide portion for receiving, gripping and feeding documents over said guide portion through said machine past said photographing plane, another feed roll rotatably mounted in said support with its periphery positioned adjacent the guide portion for engaging one side of documents as they leave the photographing plane, and a brush rotatably and detachably mounted in said support having its periphery engaging the periphery of said other feed roll, means for driving said feed rolls at a uniform speed for gripping and feeding documents over said guide portion and through said photographing plane, and means for driving said brush at a greater speed than said feed rolls operable to draw documents taut during their passage through said photographing plane to eliminate wrinkles and the like in said documents while they pass through said photographing plane.

7. In a document photographing machine, a support, a plurality of pairs of feed rolls rotatably mounted in said support and arranged to provide a path of feed for a document through said machine, the rolls of each pair having peripheral engagement for gripping a document therebetween for feeding between the rolls of an adjacent pair in the movement of a document through said path in said machine, a photographing plane provided in said path through which documents are fed by said feed rolls, a single feed roll positioned to engage a document as it leaves the photographing plane, a brush roll having peripheral engagement with said single feed roll to engage a document as it leaves the photographing plane, means for driving all of said feed rolls at a uniform speed for conveying documents through said machine and through said photographing plane, and means driven by said driving means for driving said brush roll at an increased speed for tensioning documents in said photographing plane whereby documents passing through said photographing plane are held substantially flat and free from wrinkles. 8. In a document photographing machine, a photographing plane in said machine, document feeding means for feeding documents through said photographing plane including document straightening means, and a brush rotatably and detachably mounted in said machine and cooperatin with said document feeding means for engaging a document as it leaves said photographic plane, and means for rotating said brush at a rate of speed higher than twice that of the document feeding means for tensioning a document in the photographic plane into a substantially flat position free from bulges and wrinkles, and said brush being arranged and adapted to be detached from said brush rotating means for the removal and replacement thereof.

9. In a document photographing machine, a support having a partially cylindrical guide portion for the passage of documents thereover in movement through the machine, a plurality of feed rolls rotatably mounted in said support inwardly of said guide portion in spaced parallel relation and arranged in concentric relation to said partially cylindrical guide portion with a portion of the periphery of each feed roll extending beyond the cylindrical guide portion, a guide unit hingedly mounted in said support, a plurality of idler rolls rotatably mounted in said guide unit for peripheral engagement of each roll with one of said feed rolls for cooperation to grip and feed documents therebetween about said guide portion, means for retaining said guide unit in operative position for feeding documents between said rolls, said guide portion having a photographic plane at one end of said unit, brush driving means rotatable in said support, a'brush detachably mounted in said brush driving means and having peripheral engagement with one of said feed rolls, said brush and brush driving means being positioned adjacent said photographic plane on the side opposite said guide unit, and means for driving said feed rolls at a uniform speed and said brush at a higher speed than said feed rolls for gripping documents as they pass through the photographic plane and drawing them taut while in the photographic plane, said guide unit being movable on its hinge away from said guide portion and feed rolls including said brush to provide access to said feed rolls, guide portion and brush so that said brush can be manipulated for detachment from said brush mounting.

10. In a document photographing machine, a support having a pair of spaced parallel end frame walls, a stationary cylinder extending between said walls, a pair of end walls engaged with opposite ends of said stationary cylinder for supporting said cylinder, means securing said end walls together to support said cylinder and also to attach the assembled end walls and cylinder to one of said frame walls, said cylinder having the outer face thereof defining a document feed path through said machine, a plurality of feed shafts rotatably mounted in spaced parallel relation in said end plates within said cylinder and in circumferential relationconcentric with said cylinder, each shaft having one end projecting beyond the end wall supporting said cylinder, a plurality of feed rolls mounted on said feed shafts having the peripheries extending through openings in said cylinder and slightly beyond the outer surface thereof, a gear mounted on the end of each of said feed shafts beyond said end frame wall, a main drive shaft rotatably supported by said frame Walls, a ring gear mounted on said main drive shaft meshing with all of the gears on said feed shafts for simultaneously driving all of said shafts in the same direction at a uniform speed in the rotation of said main drive shaft, an upper guide unit extending between said frame walls adjacent to the outer face of said stationary cylinder and pivotally connected to said frame walls at one end for pivotal movement into an operative position adjacent the outer face of said cylinder and into an open inoperative position extending away from said'cylinder, said unit having a partially cylindrical guide plate arranged in adjacent spaced concentric relation outwardly of said stationary cylinder in the operative position of said unit, a plurality of idler rolls journaled in said unit and having the peripheries extending through openings in said guide plate for peripheral engagement with the feed rolls on said feed shafts in the operative position of said unit, means carried by said unit for resiliently projecting said idler rolls into peripheral engagement with the feed rolls on said shafts, and latch means for retaining said guide unit in operative and open positions respectively, whereby said guide unit has the idler rolls thereof cooperate with the feed rolls on said feed shafts in the rotation thereof for gripping and feeding documents between the outer surface of said cylinder and the inner surface of said guide plate for movement into a photographing plane adjacent one end of said unit.

11. In a document photographing machine, a support having a curved guide portion for the passage of documents through said machine, a guide unit hingedly mounted on said support and having a curved guide portion for cooperation with the curved guide portion of said support to guide a document in passage through said machine, document feeding means mounted in said support and guide unit for cooperation to feed a, document between said curved guide portions, latch means for retaining said guide unit in operative position for guiding and feeding documents in cooperation with the curved guide portion of said support and operable to release said guide unit for hinging movement into an inoperative position where the curved'unit extends away from the curved guide portion of said support in order to provide access to said document feeding means, an illuminating unit having a supporting frame hingedly moimted at one end in said support below said guide unit and carrying illuminating means movable with said unit into close proximity to the lower end of said guide unit for illuminating a photographing plane formed at a predetermined pos1tion on said curved guide portion, latch means for retaining said illuminating unit in said close proximity to said photographing plane and operable to release said illuminating unit for swinging movement on its pivotal mounting in said support into an open inoperative position whereby said guide unit may be swung into its out wardly extending position relative to said curved guide portion.

12. In a document photographing machine, a support, a photographing plane on said support, document feeding means on said support having a pivoted guide unit mounted on said support to swing into operative and inoperative positions, a latch for retaining said guide unit in 

